Explain the biological (genetic and neuroscientific); psychological (behavioral and cognitive processes, emotional, developmental); and social, cultural, and interpersonal factors that influence the development of psychopathology

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Discussion: Factors That Influence the Development of Psychopathology

In many realms of medicine, objective diagnoses can be made: A clavicula is broken. An infection is present. TSH levels meet the diagnostic criteria for hypothyroidism. Psychiatry, on the other hand, deals with psychological phenomena and behaviors. Can these, too, be “defined objectively and by scientific criteria (Gergen, 1985), or are they social constructions?” (Sadock et al., 2015).

Thanks to myriad advances during recent decades, we know that psychopathology is caused by many interacting factors. Theoretical and clinical contributions to the field have come from the neural sciences, genetics, psychology, and social-cultural sciences. How do these factors impact the expression, classification, diagnosis, and prevalence of psychopathology, and why might it be important for a nurse practitioner to take a multidimensional, integrative approach?

To Prepare:

Review this week’s Learning Resources, considering the many interacting factors that contribute to the development of psychopathology.
Consider how theoretical perspective on psychopathology impacts the work of the PMHNP.

By Day 3 of Week 1

Explain the biological (genetic and neuroscientific); psychological (behavioral and cognitive processes, emotional, developmental); and social, cultural, and interpersonal factors that influence the development of psychopathology.

Influential Factors in the Development of Psychopathology (Order Original Paper)

Introduction

Psychopathology delves into the study of various deviant thought processes. It encompasses the exploration of the origins, indications, classification, mental ailments, interventions, and tactics pertaining to mental distress and disorders. The sources of mental maladies can encompass genetic, behavioral, cognitive, emotional, developmental, interpersonal, social, and cultural influences.

Genetic and Neuroscientific Aspects

Behavioral genetic research generally underscores the genetic impact on behavior. However, pinpointing the precise genetic determinants underlying mental health disorders has proven more intricate than initially anticipated during the Human Genome Project’s inception. Fortunately, since 2005, genome-wide association studies have successfully unveiled genetic connections (McGue, Saunders & Gottesman, 2018). Attaining a comprehensive understanding of gene-environment interaction and epigenetic processes is vital to achieve this objective.

Genetic and neuroscientific elements play a significant role in the emergence of psychopathology. According to Shadrina et al. (2018), depressive disorders (DDs) constitute prevalent psychiatric conditions.

For instance, major depressive disorder (MDD) afflicts one in five individuals and stands as a primary global disability contributor. Presently, MDD is recognized as a multifaceted ailment arising from factors like genetic anomalies, stress, and other pathological mechanisms. Numerous studies have contributed to the exploration of MDD’s development (Filatova, Shadrina & Slominsky, 2021).

Another instance of the convergence of psychiatry and neuroscience lies in the intersection of Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD), both severe psychiatric conditions marked by substantial comorbidities in clinical and genetic domains (Wang et al., 2019). In both disorders, genetic susceptibility often stems from distinct variations, implicating involvement in diverse biological pathways.

While neurology primarily links to psychiatric and neurological conditions, psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) must adopt an integrated approach when assessing and diagnosing mental health disorders.

Behavioral and Cognitive Processes, Emotional Development

Cognitive development plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and scrutinizing abnormal mental health states. When an individual’s thoughts and actions deviate from the norm, it becomes crucial to define the norm. Psychology becomes indispensable in comprehending mental well-being. In children, brain maturation remains incomplete. Their inability to reach milestones deemed standard for most children often hinders emotional expressions like sadness, anxiety, or depression (Butcher & Kendall, 2018).

Psychopathology in children and adolescents proves more intricate and potentially mutable than adult conditions. Failure to transition successfully from childhood to adulthood can engender behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and developmental challenges, heightening the susceptibility to mental health disorders.

Research underscores that a diagnosis essentially reflects a clinician’s interpretation of a patient’s self-perception of thoughts and emotions (Ruiz, Sadock, & Sadock, 2017). Understanding childhood fundamentals is imperative for psychiatric nurse practitioners to prevent and manage mental health disorders in young individuals.

Social, Cultural, and Interpersonal Aspects

Amid the universality of mental disorders lies psychopathology entrenched in sociocultural frameworks of meaning and values. Psychological assessment forms a pivotal component of psychopathological diagnosis. Standardized objective personality and cognitive tests with proven reliability, validity, and reference standards hold prominence among the developed tests. Psychologists necessitate training in multicultural competence and social justice to cater to culturally diverse populations (Cheung & Mak, 2018).

The journey leading an individual to that juncture is intricately linked with their social and cultural disparities. Mental disorders often stem from, and are exacerbated by, a person’s social or cultural environment. Cheung & Mak (2018) assert that while universal threads bind mental health disorders, the path to affliction is deeply entwined with social and cultural differences.

Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) must grasp the impact of culture on a patient’s presentation and adapt their assessment accordingly. Diverse cultural viewpoints influence perceptions of mental health disorders. In numerous cultures, mental illness is viewed as a vulnerability rather than an ailment, resulting in delayed or absent treatment seeking.

Conclusion

Mental disorders ostensibly arise from deviations in brain structure and function. People are prone to symptoms of mental ailments, influenced by a combination of genetic predispositions and life experiences that trigger inherent or acquired susceptibilities, ultimately manifesting as symptoms and signs of these conditions. As outlined in the DSM-5, psychiatric disorders transcend racial, ethnic, and national boundaries (Lurigio, 2020).

References

Butcher, J. N., & Kendall, P. C. (2018). Introduction to childhood and adolescent psychopathology. In J. N. Butcher & P. C. Kendall (Eds.), APA handbook of psychopathology: Child and adolescent psychopathology., Vol. 2. (pp. 3-14). American Psychological Association. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/0000065-001

Cheung, F. M., & Mak, W. W. S. (2018). Sociocultural factors in psychopathology. In J.N. Butcher & J. M. Hooley (Eds.), APA handbook of psychopathology: Psychopathology: Understanding, assessing, and treating adult mental disorders., Vol. 1. (pp. 127-147). American Psychological Association. https://doiorg.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/0000064-006

Filatova, E. V., Shadrina, M. I., & Slominsky, P. A. (2021). Major Depression: One Brain, One Disease, One Set of Intertwined Processes. Cells (2073-4409), 10(6), 1283.

Lurigio, A. J. (2020). DSM-5. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health.

McGue, M., Saunders, G., & Gottesman, I. I. (2018). Behavioral genetic insights on the development of psychopathology. In J. N. Butcher & J. M. Hooley (Eds.), APA handbook of psychopathology: Psychopathology: Understanding, assessing, and treating adult mental disorders., Vol. 1. (pp. 91-125). American Psychological Association. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1037/0000064-005

Ruiz, P., Sadock, B. J., & Sadock, V. A. (2015). Synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health

Shadrina, M., Bondarenko, E. A., & Slominsky, P. A. (2018). Genetics Factors in Major Depression Disease. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00334

Wang, W., Fang, Y., Jiang, X., Huang, W., Wang, Z., & Lin, G. N. (2019). Varying Mutational Classes Illuminate Differential Genetic Patterns Between Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. 2019 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM), Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM), 2019 IEEE International Conference On, 983-986. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1109/BIBM47256.2019.8983255

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